Brow Shade Matching: How to Choose Your Eyebrow Pencil Colour
Let’s be honest, figuring out what colour brow pencil should I use can feel weirdly complicated.
Too dark? Your brows can look harsh. Too light? They disappear and pencilling them in feels pointless. Slightly off tone? Suddenly everything just looks… not quite right.
And the thing is, your brows frame your whole face. So getting your eyebrow pencil colour right makes a big difference, even if the rest of your makeup is minimal.
The good news? Once you understand how to choose eyebrow pencil colour, it becomes a lot more intuitive.
So, whether you’re working with blonde, brown, black or red hair, we’re breaking it down in a way that is easy to follow (and ensures your brows look good IRL, not just in theory).
How to Choose The Perfect Eyebrow Pencil Colour
“What colour eyebrow pencil should I use?”, is probably one of the most common dilemmas when it comes to brow products.
Choosing the right shade isn’t just about matching your hair colour exactly. It’s about tone, depth, and how you actually want your brows to look (soft and natural vs defined and sculpted). Here’s how to choose eyebrow pencil colour.
Check Your Hair’s Undertone
First things first: undertone matters more than you think. When deciding what colour brow pencil should I use, look at your hair in natural light. Does it lean warm (golden, honey, auburn)? Or cool (ashy, neutral, slightly grey-toned)?
- Warmer hair tones tend to suit warmer brow shades
- Cooler hair tones work better with ashier brow pencils
If your hair is on the warmer side, a slightly golden-toned brow pencil will look more natural. If it’s cooler, go for something more muted or ashy.
This is one of the easiest ways to avoid that “my brows look slightly off but I can’t figure out why” situation.
Go Lighter For a Softer Brow
If your goal is natural, fluffy, everyday brows, this is your trick.
Choosing a shade slightly lighter than your hair colour creates a softer, more diffused look. It’s perfect if you’re just filling in small gaps or want that effortless finish.
So if you’re wondering what colour eyebrow pencil should I use for a more natural look, going a touch lighter is usually the answer.
Match Your Hair for Definition
If you prefer a more sculpted, defined brow, matching your brow pencil closely to your hair colour will give you that structure.
This works especially well if you like a more polished makeup look or want your brows to stand out a little more.
So when deciding how to choose eyebrow pencil colour for definition, matching your hair shade (and undertone) is key.
Look at Your Roots
Here’s a detail people often miss. If you have highlights, balayage, or lighter ends, your roots are usually the best reference point for your brow shade — not the lighter lengths.
Matching your brows to your root colour tends to give the most natural result. It’s a small tweak, but it makes a big difference when figuring out what colour brow pencil should I use.
Pro Tip: Where You Swatch Matters
This is one of those small things that changes everything.
When testing shades, don’t swatch on the back of your hand. Instead, swatch on the inside of your palm.
Why? The skin there is slightly oilier (like your face), so the pigment glides more realistically and shows up more accurately. You’ll get a much better idea of how the brow pencil will actually look and wear. If you’re trying to figure out how to choose eyebrow pencil colour, this one tip will instantly make your shade matching more accurate.
Best Eyebrow Pencil For Brown Hair
If you have brown hair, you’ve got a bit of flexibility — but tone still matters.
When choosing what colour eyebrow pencil for brown hair, think about whether your hair leans warm or cool.
- Warm brunettes suit softer, slightly golden browns
- Cooler brunettes look best with ash or neutral brown tones
If you want a softer everyday look, go slightly lighter than your hair colour. If you want more definition, match your shade more closely.
For VIEVE’s Modern Brow Definer:
- Light Brown is perfect for softer, lighter brunettes or a more natural finish
- Medium Brown is your go-to everyday shade for most brunettes
- Dark Brown works best if your hair is deeper or you want more definition
Best Eyebrow Pencil For Black Hair
For black hair, the biggest mistake is going too dark.
When choosing what colour eyebrow pencil for black eyebrows, avoid jet black shades unless your brows are naturally that deep. Instead, opt for softer dark browns or cool-toned shades.
This keeps your brows defined without looking too harsh or heavy.
If you’re unsure, what colour brow pencil should I use with black hair, a deep brown is usually the safest (and most flattering) option. But if you’re naturally very dark, you can go
For VIEVE’s Modern Brow Definer:
- Dark Brown is often the most flattering choice for black hair — it gives definition without looking too intense
- Natural Black works if your hair and brows are naturally very dark and you want that sharper, more sculpted look
Best Eyebrow Pencil For Blonde Hair
Blonde hair can be the trickiest when it comes to brow shade matching.
When choosing what colour eyebrow pencil for blonde hair, the goal is to add definition without overpowering your features.
- Light blondes suit taupe or soft beige tones
- Darker blondes can go slightly deeper with neutral browns
For VIEVE’s Modern Brow Definer:
- Blonde is ideal for very light or cool-toned blondes
- Taupe works beautifully for ash blondes or if you want a slightly more defined but still soft look
- Light Brown is perfect for darker blondes who want a bit more depth
Avoid anything too warm or orange-toned — it can look unnatural against lighter hair.
If in doubt, start lighter and build up. It’s much easier to add depth than to soften a shade that’s too dark.
Best Eyebrow Pencil for Red Hair
Red hair (or ginger tones) needs a little extra attention when choosing brow shades.
If you’re wondering what colour eyebrows for red hair or what colour eyebrow pencil for ginger hair, look for warm undertones. Think soft auburns, warm browns, or slightly copper-leaning shades.
For VIEVE’s Modern Brow Definer:
- Light Brown works beautifully for softer, lighter red tones
- Medium Brown suits deeper auburn or richer red hair
- Taupe can work if your red hair leans more muted or neutral
Avoid overly cool or ashy shades. They can clash with the warmth in your hair and look a bit off.
The aim is harmony. Brows that complement your hair, not compete with it.
Best Eyebrow Pencil For Grey Hair
Grey hair changes the whole brow conversation and the old rule of “just match your hair colour” doesn’t quite work here.
When thinking about what colour brow pencil should I use with grey hair, the goal is to add soft definition without making the brows look too harsh or overly dark against lighter strands.
Cool tones are your best friend here.
- Soft taupes and ash browns tend to look the most natural
- Avoid overly warm or red-toned shades as they can clash with grey hair
- Be careful with very dark shades, as they can feel too heavy
For VIEVE’s Modern Brow Definer:
- Taupe is the standout shade for grey hair because it adds definition while still keeping things soft and natural
- Light Brown can work if you want a slightly warmer or more defined look
- Medium Brown is an option if you prefer a bolder brow, but use a light hand to keep it balanced
If you’re unsure how to choose eyebrow pencil colour for grey hair, start softer and build up gradually. It’s much easier to add depth than to tone things down.
The overall aim? Brows that frame your face and add structure without overpowering your features.
Shop VIEVE’s Brow Range
At the end of the day, figuring out what colour brow pencil should I use comes down to what looks and feels right for you.
Whether you prefer soft, natural brows or something more defined, the right shade (and undertone) makes all the difference.
Explore VIEVE’s brow collection to find your perfect match of Modern Brow Definer and lock it in with Modern Brow Gel. Because once your brow shade is right, everything else just falls into place.
